February 28, 1975

Florida Rock Festival - Press Release

LED ZEPPELIN EXPRESSES DISAPPOINTMENT OVER CANCELLATION OF "FLORIDA ROCK" FESTIVAL

The members of Led Zeppelin, who returned today for the resumption of their 1975 American tour, expressed disappointment over the cancellation of the "Florida Rock" festival which the group had been scheduled to headline on March 8th.

"Florida Rock" was cancelled last week by David Rupp, owner of the West Palm Beach Speedway where the event was supposed to take place. Rupp gave as his reason for cancellation, the failure of the promoters, Connecticut Concerts Corporation, to begin the improvements on the property he considered necessary for a successful event. Primary among these was paving of parking space for the anticipated 60,000 cars the event was expected to have attracted.

Danny Goldberg, Vice-President of Swan Song, Led Zeppelin's "record company, commented following the cancellation: "The group and their manager Peter Grant are very disappointed that they will he unable to play Florida on this tour due to circumstances utterly beyond their control. I know that they have a very special feeling for Florida, due in part to the fact that the biggest concert they ever played was in Tampa, Florida at the Stadium there in 1973." (The Tampa Stadium concert on May 5, 1973 in fact stands as the record for the largest paid attendance ever to see a musical act perform: 56,800.)

Following the cancellation of the West Palm Beach festival, a variety of ideas for other dates for Zeppelin to play in Florida were reported in the Florida press. It was reported that the Mayor's office in Miami was attempting to make the Orange Bowl available for a proposed concert by Zeppelin which would benefit the Pediatric Center in Florida. No firm proposal however was ever received by Stevens H. Weiss, who is the Attorney and Administrator for Led Zeppelin and for Swan Song. On February 26th, Weiss sent the following telegram to Frank Cobo, Assistant to the Mayor of Miami, explaining that the time was now too late to logistically put together a Led Zeppelin concert in Florida. The text of his telegram was as follows:

Mr. Frank CoboAssistant to the Mayor of Miami City of MiamiCity HallDenner KeyMiami, Florida 33133

Dear Mr. Cobo:

No definite proposal for Led Zeppelin to play Orange Bowl on March. 8 or any other date has been received either from Pediatric Center or any other party and therefore there is not even anything for me to submit to President of Swan Song and group manager for his consideration. Efforts of Miami Mayor to make Orange Bowl available for Led Zeppelin concert are much appreciated and the charity is undoubtedly a worthy one. However, since nothing concrete has been submitted for consideration of Swan Song President and group manager it is now no longer feasible from time point of view to put together a proper and artistic concert for March 8 even if a firm offer was now received. Further there is no other feasible open time period available on remainder of 1975 tour to play Orange Bowl so therefore any consideration of Led Zeppelin playing Orange Bowl this tour no longer feasible.

Hope that the Orange Bowl will be made available for next tour. Florida is a very special place for the Led Zeppelin and they like playing Florida very much. I believe they would be most interested in a charity concert at the Orange Bowl on their next tour.